About Peter R. Shumaker, MD

Dr. Peter Shumaker is an internationally renowned dermatologic surgeon with special interests in Mohs skin cancer surgery and scar management. He recently retired as a Captain from the United States Navy after 22 years of distinguished service in more than 20 different countries. A third of his Navy career was spent as Chairman of the Department of Dermatology at the Naval Medical Center San Diego, the largest dermatology program in the US Navy and one of only 2 dermatology training programs in the San Diego area. He completed his dermatology residency training in 2005 at the Naval Medical Center San Diego after graduating with honors from Georgetown University School of Medicine. In 2008 he completed special Mohs and dermatologic surgery fellowship training at Scripps Clinic in La Jolla, California. In addition to extensive experience in Mohs skin cancer surgery, Dr. Shumaker is one of the world’s top experts in scar management and he spent more than a decade dedicated to advancing comprehensive rehabilitation for wounded warriors and other patients who have suffered traumatic injuries. He leveraged this experience to lead national and international engagement efforts for Navy Medicine, including a 6-year project treating hundreds of children and adults with severe burn scars in Vietnam alongside US Navy surgeons and their local counterparts. He continues this pioneering work and service to our nation’s veterans working part-time in the VA San Diego Healthcare System. Dr. Shumaker’s honors include the President’s Award from the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, the Master Clinician Award from the Naval Medical Center San Diego, and he served as co-Editor for The Scar Book, the first ever comprehensive medical textbook on scar formation and treatment. He has delivered numerous invited podium presentations on 4 continents and published more than 50 academic articles and book chapters on topics including Mohs and laser medicine in top journals from at least 7 different specialties. Dr. Shumaker is a Fellow of the American College of Mohs Surgery, the American Academy of Dermatology, the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, and the American Society for Lasers in Medicine and Surgery, and has served on the Editorial Board for the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology and the journal Lasers in Surgery and Medicine. He holds academic appointments at the Uniformed Services University and UCSD and enjoys teaching dermatology residents from the Naval Medical Center and UCSD programs. Dr. Shumaker is married with three boys and enjoys hiking, biking, and travel. He is excited to provide expert and compassionate care alongside the illustrious team at Bernardo Dermatology Medical Group.